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Chapter 35

The OriginatorFāṭir ( فاطر )

45 verses • revealed at Meccan

»The surah that opens with the praise of God as The Originator of the heavens and the earth. It takes its name from the word “fāṭir” (orginator), which occurs in verse 1. The surah affirms God’s power and Creation and contrasts this with the powerlessness and uselessness of the “partners” set up by the idolaters. The surah warns the idolaters of their punishment and comforts the Prophet through mention of previous messengers who were also rejected as liars. The great rewards that await believers are described.«

The surah is also known as Sole Originator, The Bringer into Being, The Creator

بِسمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحمٰنِ الرَّحيمِ

Ali Unal: IN THE NAME OF GOD, THE ALL-MERCIFUL, THE ALL-COMPASSIONATE

1
الحَمدُ لِلَّهِ فاطِرِ السَّماواتِ وَالأَرضِ جاعِلِ المَلائِكَةِ رُسُلًا أُولي أَجنِحَةٍ مَثنىٰ وَثُلاثَ وَرُباعَ ۚ يَزيدُ فِي الخَلقِ ما يَشاءُ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلىٰ كُلِّ شَيءٍ قَديرٌ

Ali Unal

Revealed in the mid-Makkan period of Islam, this sūrah of 45 verses takes its name from the first verse where God Almighty is introduced as al-Fātir (the All-Originating). It is also called Sūrat al-Malā’ikah. The main topics dealt with in the sūrah are God’s Oneness, the Hereafter, and the Messengership of Muhammad, upon him peace and blessings. The sūrah presents proofs for these three pillars of faith and draws attention to the bounties of God.
All praise and thanks are for God, the Originator of the heavens and the earth (each with particular features and ordered principles), Who appoints the angels as messengers (conveying His commands) having wings, two, or three, or four (or more)1. He increases in creation what He wills2. Surely God has full power over everything.
  • On the existence of the angels and their being the conveyors of God’s commands and messages, see sūrah 2, notes 31, 36, 40; 11: 83, note 20; 15: 27, note 7.
    What the verse means by the angels’ wings is their speed, power, and the tasks they carry out. Their wings are not restricted to four. God’s Messenger, upon him be peace and blessings, says that during his Ascension, he saw the Archangel Gabriel with 600 wings, and that Gabriel told him that he had seen Isrāfīl with 12,000 wings, a single one of which filled up the space between the heavens and the earth (al-Qurtubī).
  • This means that God’s process of creation is continuous with expansion in scope, range, and variety. It also means that He not only creates to satisfy a purpose, but also for perfection. Because of this, He creates whatever He creates in the best, and the most beautiful and purposeful form and fashion.